Wrapping machine



June 17, 1941-. E. L. SMITH WRAPPING MACHINEv 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYSFiled Nov. 25, 1939 E. L. SMITH WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Nov. 25 1959 June17, 1941.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR lb/m Zoraz J/v/rx/ BY ATTORNEYS June 17,1941. L n- 2,246,268

wmrrme MACHINE Filed Nov. 25, 1939" s Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR 22/10?[mam J/x/n/ W ZWL 1 ATTORNEYS Patented June 17, 1941 WRAPPING MACHINEElmer Lovell Smith, Iiongmeadom'Masa, assignor to Package MachineryCompany, Springfield, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts ApplicationNovember 25, 1939, Serial No. 306,114

14 Claims.

This invention relates to mechanism for wrapping articles.

One object of the. invention is to provide a novel mechanism forproducing a package which will have all the folds located upon one flatside of the article with the outsidefiap covering nearly all of thatside so as to present a surface capable of bearing printing. A furtherobject is to provide improved mechanism for' treating this final fiapprior to the time at which it is folded upon the article so as to causethe flap to have a slightinward convergence sufficient to prevent anyappearance of flaring, which would normally occur as the variousfolds-were flattened out in folding down this last flap. A furtherobject is to provide an improved mechanism in which the article may beconveyed through the complete machine by the action of continuouslymoving pushers only. A further object is to provide improved mechanismfor producing a package capable of being sealed by a single band ofsealing liquid applied during the folding operation.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of-the invention thearticles are delivered down a first wrapping channel in which theycontact a wrapper, which is subsequently folded around the forward sideand around onto the bottom of the article leaving a trailing extensionbehind the article and side folds turned completely around onto thebottom of the article. The article is then carried in a direction atright angles to the first in which process the rearward extensionisgiven a slight convergence in order to avoid fiare,

and is then glued and turned at right angles'to a semi-circular arc inorder that the direction of the delivery channel may be the same as thatof the first channel.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of the first wrapping channel withthe top plate omitted;

Fig. 2 is a section thereof on line 2-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section of the first channel on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 4 to 9 are details showing successive steps in the wrapping of thearticle in the first channel;

Fig. 10 is a bottom view of the partially wrapped article in thecondition shown in Fig. 9;

Figs. 11 and 12 collectively are side elevational views of the secondchannel, the two views being continuations one of another on the lineAA;

and being taken substantially on the line |2|2 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 13 is a section on line I 3-l3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 14 is'a section on line lL-ll of Fig. 12;

Fig. 15 is a detail of the operating mechanism for a forwarding deviceshown in Fig. 12;

Fig. 16 is a detail of a partially wrapped article taken on line l6--|6of Fig. 7;

Fig. 17 is a detail of a partially wrapped article taken on line "-41 ofFig. 9;

Fig. 18 is ,a detail, looking in the direction of travel of the firstchannel, of an article shortly after being received in the secondchannel;

Fig. 19 is a detail, taken at a time shortly after that shown in Fig.12', showing the operation of a rotary folder;

Fig. 20 is a bottom view of a package shortly I after the position ofFig. 19;

Fig. 21 is a detailshowing the operation of the rear flap gluing device;

Fig. 22 is a detail showing the folder for turning down the rear flap ofthe wrapper; and

Fig. 23 is a detail showing the manner in which the article is deliveredfrom the second channel conveyor.

The mechanism for delivering the articles to the machine and for feedingthe wrapping material into place, as well as the main drive mechanism,is not essential to an understanding of the present invention and is notshown in detail herein. The articles a, which may he sticks of gum, aredelivered in any suitable way in front of successive pushers 25 carriedby a chain 26 which may be driven continuously in any desired manner.The pushers extend through a slot 21 in the bed-plate 28 of the firstfolding channel, and are generally T-shaped with the wide bar away fromthe conveyor. As the articles are advanced they contact a wrapper wdelivered in place in any suitable manner. The feed. of the wrapper isso timed with respect to the motion of the article that, as is best seenin Fig. 4, the wrapper will be folded around the forward edge of thearticle with a long single ply rearward extension at the top anda shortflap, slightly less in width than the article, at the bottom.

As the article in the condition of Fig. 4 is forwarded continuouslythrough the wrapping channel the side portions of the wrapper contacttucking plates 29 only one of which appears in Fig. 1.

As is best shown in Figs. 1 and 3 the tucking plates have their forwardend beveled and slanting in toward. the article as indicated at 30, andare preferably formed as narrowed extensions of .a plate 31 secured tothe bed plate. The extensions Il may thus be made very narrow withoutsacrificing rigidity. The function of these plates is to form tucks b ateach end of the wrapper as is shown in Fig. 5. After leaving the tuckingmembers the sides of the wrapper are pushed upwardly and are creased bystationary blades 32 arising from plates 33 secured to the bed plate.These creases form at either side of the article plate of the secondfolding channel.

a fold line in the side extensions of the wrapper and at the same timeforce the lower flaps upwardly so that when the composite side flaps aresubsequently turned down a neat fold will be produced. This folding ofthe side fiaps c is brought about by the beveled portion 34 of astationary folder 35 and brings the flap to thevcondition shown in Fig.'7. The fiap is then engaged by a stationary plow folder 26 and turnedunderneath the article as shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10.

It will be seen that in thiscondition the wrapper completely inclosesthe article except for its rear edge and that it has a single plyrearward extension (1 at the top and marginal portions at the bottomformed by the fiaps c which have been turned around onto the bottom ofthe article. In the condition of Fig. 9' and 10 the rearward extensionsof the flaps c are spaced from the flap d and itis to the consolidationof these two portions of the wrapper that the next part of the wrappingmachine relates. through the second wrapping channel it may be notedthat the first wrappin channel is provided with spring pressed topplates 31, 38 and 39, the latter'of which has its side portions beveledoff as shownat 40 in Fig. 13. These several top plates are mounted onpins 4| passing through a bar 42 suitably supported as at 43, springs 44being interposed between the bar 42 and the top plates to hold thelatter yieldably against the articles.

The articles in the condition of Figs. 9 and 10 are delivered by thepushers 25 successively onto the bottom plate 45 of the second wrappingwrapper channel as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and are forwarded along it byL-shaped pushers 46 carried by a continuously moving chain conveyor 41which may be supported and driven in any suitable manner. It should benoted that the first conveyor 26 is on one side of the line of articlesand the conveyor 41 is on'the other side so that they do not interfere.The condition of the article at the time of the transfer from oneconveyor to the other is best shown in Fig. 13. When the article isreceived upon the floor 45 of the channel the trailing extension at oneside is supported upon a stationary block 50 while the extension of theother side is supported by a block having a tapered surface 52, thespace 83 between the blocks serving for the passage of the pushers 25.By tapering the block 5| in the manner shown the fiap originally restingon it will be guided during the start of its travel down Before passingnaturally by being pushed along a creasing plate (Fig. 11) lying at theedge of the bottom This plate may be secured to the channel bottom byscrews ,5! as shown :in Fig. 3 and .has an initially tapered portion 58and ar intermediate tapered portion 59 (Fig. 12) leading up to the finalcreasing portion 8!. In fact as far as this flap is concerned, the twostage nature of the creasing plate is unnecessary and the plate could bemade to rise immediately to the level of the portion 60.

with respect to the rear edge of these flaps,

however, it will be apparent that, instead of causing the fiap to taperinwardly, the action of .the creaser plate would be to cause the flap tobecome flared outwardly, which is the reverse of the condition desired.To correct this condition a continuously rotating creaser and folder BIis mounted on a shaft 52 and driven by any suitable mechanism in timedrelation to the chain 41. The shaft makes one revolution for eachpassage of an article but the radius of the rotating folder is chosensufilciently large so that it ,has a peripheral speed in excess of theforward speed of the article. This causes the folder to sweep the rearcurved edge of the flap forwardly as shown in Fig. 19 and then bycontact of an ironing portion 52' with a hardened stationary block 53 tocrease the fold and cause the flap to be retained in this condition. Itwill be noted that prior to the operation of the rotating folder theflaps have been partially elevated by the creaser 56 as shown in Fig.18. The creaser plate not only furnishes support for the flaps but byits height regulates exactly the amount of inward taper which will begiven to the rear fiap by the rotating folder.

After passing the rotating folder the articles are carried by thepushers 45 past the elevated portion 60 of the creasing plate, whichpresses the .fiaps against a stationary top plate 54 and holds themtightly in creased'position. The article then passes by a glue daubercarried upon a rotating shaft 65 driven in timed relation with theconveyor so as to contact the central portion of each extending flap das shown in Fig. 21. This dauber is also adapted to'contact a roller 66dipping into a tank (not shown) containing a sealing liquid and providedwith the usual doctor plate 51.

Still continuing their passage down the second folding channel, thecomposite flaps cd then strike against a stationary folder 68 and areturned thereby vertically downwardly as shown the second channel in thedirection shown by the arrow 54 while the flap at the other side willengage this beveled surface edge on and will be turned up into itsnormal position without danger of catching.

It is desirable in order to preserve the neat appearance of the articlethat when the composite ilap cd is folded underneath the article itshould not overhang the article at its ends.

in Figs. 22 and 23. With the fiaps in this condition the partiallywrapped article is disposed by the pusher 46 in the position indicatedat a in Fig. 12. A transfer finger Ill, having a motion in an ellipticalpath Ii, moves the article from the position a to the end of the secondchannel into a position indicated at a." in Fig. 14. To give the ger IIIthe desired motion it is mounted upon the upper end of an arm 12 pivotedat 13 to a crank 14 rotating about a shaft 15. The lower end of the armis pivoted at 16 to an arm ll freely swinging upon a stationary pivotI8.

The last fold is accomplished by pushing the article in a directionopposite to that of the first conveyor over a folding member asindicated in Fig. 14. This turns the composite flap cd over upon thebottom of the article and causes the sealing liquid previously appliedto seal the wrapper firmly in position. It may be desirable in manycases not to have the completely wrapped articles traveling in adirection opposite 1 to that of the first conveyorand for this purposealong the plate 85 by contact of the successive v articles. The fingers83 are preferably forked as at 81 to straddle the guide 8|.

I claim: 1. A wrapping machine comprising means for depositing ata-station a partially wrapped article having a trailing wrapperextension, means a for conveying the article away from said station,

opposed stationary creasing members one located in the path of thewrapper extension of a wrapper being so. conveyed, and the othersubstantially in the plane of one side of the article, said first namedcreasing member-being tapered to roll the forward sides of the extensiontothe rear side of the wrapper extension, means for rotating thesegmental creasing member in the direction of movement of the articlebut at a faster speed to cause the rear side of the wrapper extensionto-be rolled towards its center and to press it against said block,and'folding means operable to turn said flattened wrapper exten-, siononto a face of the article.

4. A wrapping machine comprising means for depositing at a station apartially wrapped article having a trailing wrapper extension, means forconveying the article away from said station in a direction transverseto said trailing wrapper extension, opposed stationary creasing membersone located in the path of the wrapper extension of a wrapper being soconveyed and the other located substantially in the plane of one side ofthe article, said first named creasing member wards its center and toflatten said forward edge in that condition, a movable creasing member,

meansfor moving said movable creasing member in the direction ofmovement of the article but at a faster speed to cause the rear side ofthe wrapper extension to be rolled towards its center and to press itagainst said second named stationary-creasing member, and folding meansoperable to turn said flattened wrapper extension onto a face of thearticle.

2. A wrapping machine comprising means for depositing ata station apartially wrapped artifor moving said movable creasing member in thedirection of movement of the article but at a faster speed to cause'therear side of the wrapper extension to be rolled towards its center andto press it against said second named stationary creasing member, meansfor flattening said rear side of the wrapper extension partially beforethe movable creasing member engages it, and

folding means operable to turn said flattened wrapper extension onto aface of the article.

3. A wrapping machine comprising means for depositing at a station apartially wrapped article having a trailing wrapper extension, means forconveying the article away from said station in a direction transverseto said trailing wrapper extension, opposed stationary creasing m'embersone located in the path of the wrapper extension of a wrapper being soconveyed and the other located substantially in the plane of one side ofthe article, said first named creasing member being tapered to roll theforward side of the wrapper extension towards its center and to flattensaid forward edge by pressing it against the second named creasingmember, a continuously rotating segmental creasing member, a

being tapered to roll the forward side of the wrapper extension towardsits center and to fiatten said forward edge by pressing it against thesecond named creasing member, a continuously rotating segmental creasingmember, a hard block substantially in the plane of the first namedcreasing member and. against which the rotating creasing member ispositioned to press the rear side' of the wrapper extension, means forrotating the segmental creasing member in the direction of movement ofthe article but at a faster speed to cause the rear side of the wrapperextension to be rolled towards its center and to press it against saidblock, means for flattening said rear side of the wrapper extensionpartially before the movable creasing member engages it, and foldingmeans operable to turn said flattenedwrapper extension onto a face ofthe article.

5. In a wrapping machine, two folding channels arranged at right anglesto each other, a continuously moving first conveyor positioned adjacentthe first channel and having one or more pushers projecting into saidchannel and of a size to contact the article near its center only, thepath of said pushers being such as to deposit the article in line withthe second folding channel, wrapper feeding means for. locating awrapper in front of an article advanced by the first conveyor in such aposition that it will be folded over one face of the articlesubstantially to but not beyond the pusher and over the opposite face ofthe article beyond the pusher, folding means positioned adjacent thefirst channel to fold the side portions of the wrapper onto thefirst-named face of the article, a second continuously moving conveyorpositioned adjacent the second folding channel on the opposite side fromthe first conveyor and having one or more pushers contacting the foldedside portion of successive articles to carry them through the secondchannel, and means for completing the folding of the wrapper around thearticle.

6. In a wrapping machine, two folding channels arranged at right anglesto each other, a continuously moving first conveyor positioned adjacentthe first channel and having one or more pushers projecting into saidchannel and of a size to contact the article near its center only, thepath of said pushers being such as to deposit the article in line withthe secondfolding channel, wrapper feeding means for locating a wrapperin front of an article advanced by the first conveyor in such a positionthat it will be folded over one face of the article substantially to butnot beyond the pusher and over the opposite face of the article andbeyond the pusher, folding means positioned adjacent the first channelto fold the side portions of the wrapper onto the first-named face ofthe article, a second continuously moving conveyor. positioned adjacentthe second folding channel on the opposite side from the first conveyorand having one or more pushers contacting the folded side portions ofsuccessive articles to carry them through the second channel, meansdisposed along the second channel to crease and flatten the unfoldedpart of the wrapper into a single outstanding fiap, and means forfolding said fiap against the article.

7. In a wrapping machine, two folding channels arranged at right anglesto each other, a continuously moving first conveyor positioned adjacentthe first channel and having one or more pushers projecting into saidchannel and of a size to contact the article near its center only, thepath of said pushers being such as to deposit the article in line withthe second folding channel, wrapper feeding means for locating a wrapperin front of an article advanced by the first conveyor in such a positionthat it will be folded over one face of the article substantially to butnot beyond the pusher and over the opposite face of the article beyondthe pusher, folding means positioned adjacent the first channel to foldthe side portions of the wrapper onto the tioned to fold said flap uponthe article during the ejection of the article.

8. In a wrapping machine, two folding channels arranged at right anglesto each other, a continuously moving first conveyor positioned adjacentthe first channel and having one or more pushers projecting into saidchannel and of a size to contact the article near its center only, thepath of said pushers being such as to deposit the article in line withthe second folding channel, wrapper feeding means for locating a wrapperin front of an article advanced by the first conveyor in such a positionthat it will be folded over one face of the article substantially to butnot beyond the pusher and over the opposite face of the article andbeyond the pusher, folding means positioned adjacent the first channelto fold the side portions of the wrapper onto the first-named face ofthe article, a second continuously moving conveyor positioned adjacentthe second folding channel on the opposite side from the first conveyorand having one or more pushers contacting the folded side portions ofsuccessive articles to carry them through the second channel, meansdisposed along the second channel to crease and flatten the unfoldedpart of the wrapper into a single outstanding flap, means for turningsaid flap at right angles to the article, means for ejecting the.article at right angles to the second channel, a folder positioned tofold said fiap upon the article during the ejection of the'article, anda delivery conveyor curving reversely over said second channel todeliver the articles parallel to the articles in the. first channel. a

9. In a wrapping machine, means for folding a wrapper around an articlewith an extension having a single ply portion beyond one face of thearticle and unconnected marginal portions beyond the opposite face 01'the article, creasing means for flattening the marginal portions againstthe single ply portion, and means for folding against the article thecomposite flap thus produced.

10. In a wrapping machine, means for folding a wrapper around an articlewith an extension having a single ply portion beyond one face of thearticle and unconnectedmarginal portions beyond the opposite face of thearticle, creasing means acting on said marginal portions from oppositesides of the article to roll said marginal portions into slightlyconverging relation and to flatten them against the single ply portion,and means for folding against the article the composite flap thusproduced.

11. In a wrapping macine, a slotted folding channel, a conveyor havingpushers passing through said slot for conveying an article along thefolding channel, folding means adjacent the channel to fold a wrapperaround an article with a rearward extension having unconnected marginalportions beyond one face of the article, a second channel at rightangles to the first, means for conveying the article along the secondchannel, an article support positioned adjacent the pointof transferfrom one channel to the other, said support being slotted to permit thepassage of the pushers of the first conveyor and being beveled towardsthe slot on atleast one side to engage and fold against'the article oneof said marginal portions as the movement of the article through thesecond channel begins, and means to complete the folding of the wrapperaround the article.

12. In a wrapping machine, a folding channel, means for conveying anarticle along the folding channel, foldingmeans adjacent the channel tofold a wrapper around an article with a rear- Ward extension having asingle ply portion beyon'done face of the article and unconnectedmarginal portions beyond the other face of the article, a second channelat right angles to the first, means for conveying the article along thesecondchanneL'folding means operative during the travel of the articlethrough the second channel for creasing said marginal portions of theextension against the single ply portion and folding the composite flapthus produced about the lineof connection between said single plyportion and the body of the wrapper, means for ejecting the article fromthe second channel, and means operable upon said ejection to fold saidcomposite flap against the face of the article opposite said line ofconnection.

13. A wrapping machine comprising means for folding a wrapper about anarticle so as to cover one end and two mutually opposed surfacesadjacent thereto and to provide a wrapper extension projecting beyondthe second end from one of said opposed surfaces only, tucking platesoperable to tuck against the sides of the article the marginal wrapperextensions projecting laterally from the first-named article end, meansfor folding against the second of said opposed surfaces the multi-plymarginal wrapper portions thus formed, leaving unconnected singleplywrapper extensions projecting beyond the erally from the first-namedarticle end, means second article end from the second of said opposedsurfaces, means for flattening said unconnected single-ply extensionsagainst the wrapper extension projecting from the first of said opposedsurfaces, and means for folding said fiattened extension onto the second.of said opposed surfaces.

14. A wrapping machine comprising means for folding a wrapper about anarticle so as to cover one end and two mutually opposed surfacesadjacent thereto and to provide a wrapper exten-' sion projecting beyondthe second end from one of said opposed surfaces only, tucking platesoperable to tuck against the sides of the article the marginal wrapperextensions projecting lat-

